Another AP story on another library on "frustrated librarians" proposing a crackdown on the worst overdue book offenders that could lead to criminal charges and up to 90 days in jail. Patrons keep an average of $25,000 in overdue materials out of the county's library system each year, officials said.See Also a story out of Nebraska where Omaha's public libraries are about to get tough on people who ignore due dates on books and other items they check out.

Anonymous Patron writes "Barry the Book on trail of bad borrowers, an article from Manchester (UK) Online looks at Barry Anderson. He arrives unannounced on the doorsteps of borrowers to reclaim their overdue library books. He is so good at his job that he has recovered a staggering haul of 10,500 books, 600 VHS videos, 300 CDs, 71 DVDs and 33 CD-Roms in five years - worth more than Â£55,000."

A library in Inverness (Scotland) has received a book that's been missing from its shelves--you know, the kind that gets stacked up in the wrong place, or misplaced among other items, or carried off by a visitor.

It was ONE HUNDRED YEARS and Â£5,000 overdue.

More info about the books extensive travels and its discovery in Johannesburg (South Africa) a century after it's due date--BBC News

Rich writes "Reuters reports that Italy's Senate Library is cracking down on senators' overdue library books, Here's the full story" Italy's Senate library is getting tough on forgetful lawmakers demanding they return books on Adolf Hitler and other subjects that are up to 25 years overdue.

Anonymous Patron writes "It seems overdue books are not a problem unique to North America. News From Kuala Lumpur reports Malaysians in central Pahang state have failed to return more than 20 000 books including some rare and limited editions from the state library, it was reported.

Some of the books were taken from the Pahang Public Library as long as 28 years ago, state library acting director Faridzah Jaafar said."

madtom writes "After Bryan Haynes was caught, Syracuse police could have thrown "the book" at him. The Syracuse motorist refused to pull over for officers - and even drove against traffic on Erie Boulevard trying to shake them - because he had a stolen library book in his car, Sgt. Thomas Connellan said. "It was stupid," Connellan said. The Syracuse motorist refused to pull over for officers - and even drove against traffic on Erie Boulevard trying to shake them - because he had a stolen library book in his car, Sgt. Thomas Connellan said.Source: Syracuse Post-Standard"